Manually operated pressure feed fountain toothbrush



L. F. PE RWAS June l0, 1952 MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE FEED FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l, 1946 FIG. 2.

FIG. I.

INVENTOR. F. PERWAS Luowle ATTCI RN EYB June 10, 1952 L.. F. PERwAs 2,599,653

MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE FEED FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed March l, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR. LUDWIG F. PERWAS ATTCI RN EYB L. E. PERWAS June 10; 1952 MANUALLY GPERATED PRESSURE FEED FOUNTAN TOOTHBRUSH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l, 1946 FIG.

FIG. I3

FIG. l2.

INVENTOR. LUDWIGl F. PERWAS FIG. 9.

A'ITD R N EYB June 10, 1952 L. F. PERWAS MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE FEED FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed March l, 1946 LuDwlG F. PERvAs en/mw, ra.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1952 OFFICE MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE FEED FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Ludwig F. Perwas, Bronx, N. Y. Application March 1, 1946, Serial No. 651,349

3 Claims.

This invention relates to toothbrushes of the fountain type wherein a dentifrice is contained in the handle and supplied to the brush head as desired, and in particular the invention includes a toothbrush having an oval-shaped handle with a reservoir therein and a pump in the handle for forcing a dentifrice to the brush head by air pressure.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a positive feeder for fountain toothbrushes wherein a compartively small amount of liquid may be supplied to the brush head and then pumped into the bristles with compressed air provided by pumping means in the handle.

The diiiiculty with the average toothbrush that feeds a dentifrice from the handle to the brush head is to insure positive and continuous feeding particularly as the dentifrice clogs up the relatively small passages in the channels leading to the brush head. With this thought in mind this invention .contemplates a fountain toothbrush with pumping means incorporated in the handle for supplying air under pressure to feed the dentifrice to the brush.

The object of this invention isl therefore, to provide positive pressure feeding means for fountain toothbrushes that may be incorporated in the handle of a toothbrush without materially increasing the size thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the fountain toothbrush of this invention includes a substantially hollow tubular handle 28, ovalshape in cross section, having a reservoir 22 therein and provided with a brush head 24 which has an offset neck 25 with an outwardly flared or conical-shaped end 24av by which the brush head is attached to the end of the handle. A gasket 26 is provided between the part 24a and end of the handle to seal the connection. The neck 25 is provided with a channel 28 through which a dentifrice passes to the bristles 3u of the brush head, as shown.

A member 32 is provided in the end 24a of the neck and inclined channels 34 which communicate with the channel 28 extend downwardly at the sides having the long axis of the handle with the lower ends communicating with the interior of the handle. The upper end of a centrally disposed stud 36 is threaded into the member 32 and the lower end is threaded into a conical-shaped head 38 which carries a vent tube 48. The tube 48 communicates with a passage 42 in the head 38 and the lower part of the stud 36 is provided with an opening 44 that has laterally extending (Cl. Z22-387) openings at the upper end. A nut 46 positioned in an opening 41 and threaded on the stud 36 secures a housing 48 to the member 32 with a packing gland 58 at the lower end of the housing.

Threaded on the stud 36 is a lock nut 52 which holds a control valve plate 54 against the upper end of the housing 48 and a spring washer 59 is provided between the plate and nut with a thimble 56 having slots 58 in the sides also between the plate and nut provide air escape and inlet passages that register with corresponding openings through the valve plate 54. The nut 52 is provided with keys that extend into the slots 58 as indicated by the numeral 68.

The upper end of the housing 48 is sealed by a nut 62 which holds a washer 64 against packing 86 on a seat 68, and vertically disposed channels I8 extend through the housing and communicate with the passage 44 in the stud 36 through transverse openings '12. The upper ends of the channels 18 are closed by the valve plate 54 and these may be opened by turning the valve plate and lock nut 52. A gasket 'I4 is provided in the packing gland 58 and around the stud 36 at the center is a seat 'I6 for the packing ring 'I8 which is held by a nut 80.

In the upper part of the handle 20 is a transverse partition 82 and at points on the long axis of the handle are springs 84 that hold pins 86 outward and the pins snap into indentations 88 in the brush head cap 98, as shown.

The head 38 on the lower end of the stud 36 is positioned on the lower side of the partition 82 and an annular recess 92 is provided therein for a packing washer 94. A compression spring 96 is also positioned around the head 38 with the upper end bearing against the under surface of the partition 82 and the lower end engaging a piston 98 which has valves |08 and |82 therein and also a slot |84. A disc |86 on a tubular stem |88 is secured against the under surface of the piston by spring fingers ||8 and the disc is provided with an opening ||2 that is adapted to register with the slot |84 of the piston to provide a direct passage through the piston. The vent tube 48 extending downward from the head 38 extends into the stem |88 and the upper end of the tube |88 is provided with openings |4. On the lower end of the stem |88 is a sleeve ||6 the upper end of which is threaded into a nut I8 that is threaded into the sides of the handle across the short axis thereof as shown in Figure 2 with the threads engaging threads |28 of the handle. The sleeve I|6 is formed with a shoulder |22 by which it is sealed with a gasket |24 in a closure |28 whichvis' secured in the lower end of the handle and provided with a gasket |23.

The sleeve I I6 is provided with a threaded bore |36 in the outer end and the stem |08 is sealed therein by packing |32 held by a washer |34 and a nut |36. A control knob |33 is threaded in the outer end of the bore by a threaded shank |40 by which it is secured on the end of the stem |08 and by turning the knob with the shank thereof unscrewed from the sleeve H6 the disc |06 may be turned so that the opening ||2 registers with the slot |04, and the piston may also be reciprocated. A Icap |42 is provided on the end of the handle which is secured to the handle by pins |44 which are resiliently held in the cap.

A ball |46 which is mounted in the upper end of the member 32 provides a check valve prevent ing the dentifrice leaking from the channel 28 into the air vents in the housing 48.

In the design shownin Figures 9 to 11 inclusive, the toothbrush is provided with a handle having a reservoir 22' 'therein similar to the handle 21| and the cap 6B is secured thereto in a similar manner by spring pins 88 urged outward by springs in bosses |48. In this design the handle is provided with a perforated transverse partition |56 and a spring |52 is provided between the partition and a piston 98 on the under surface of which are springs H6 that hold a plate |54 at the upper end of a tubular stem |56. The upper end of the stem is provided with a pin |58 that extends into a recess in the piston as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, and the lower end of the stem is provided with a knob |38 similar to the knob of the design shown in Figure 1 and the knob and lower end of the stem are mounted in a similar manner. The parts are similar and the same reference numerals are used for both. In this `design the sleeve HB is held in a closure member |60 with valves |64 and |66 therein, and the valve |64 is mounted in a plug |10 with slots |12 therein and with a valve member |14 coacting with a valve seat |16 in a passage |18. The valve |66 is mounted in a plug |80 which has a valve member |82 positioned to coact with a valve seat |34 in a passage |66 therein. An indicator |88 is provided on the knob |38 which is positioned to register with indicia |90 on the face of the member |63 to indicate from the end of the handle, the relative positions of the parts for lling and discharging.

In the design shown in Figures 12 and 13 the upper end of the handle 26a is provided with a bushing |93 and the neck |93 of the brush head 24a. is threaded therein and held by a lock nut i532 in a recess |96 and the nut and recess are covered by a closure |64. A tube 200 is mounted in a recess 222 in the under side of the bushing |98, and an inner tubular member 264 with a valve 266 therein extends downward from the bushing. The valve 266 is held upward by a spring 266 to 4close the end of the neck |93 of the brush.

In Figure 14 the bristles 2||l are formed with an arcuate end surface to correspond with the inner surface of the cap 96.

With the parts arranged as described herein the empty toothbrush is iirst lled by removing the brush head 24 from the end of the neck 25, and with the device inverted the tip of the neck is held in a supply of dentifrice with the cap |42 removed, and the knob |38 turned to the filling position. This locates the opening |12 over the valve |22 and the piston is then reciprocated by the knob |38 so that air is pumped out 0i the intermediate reservoir 22 through the passages 44 and 10 and the valve plate 54, and as the air is pumped out a partial vacuum is created which draws the dentifrice into the reservoir. The amount of liquid in the reservoir may be determined through the transparent member |26 and when the handle is iilled the pumping action is discontinued.

When it is desired to use the toothbrush the caps 9D and |42 are removed and the knob |38 set to the position for use. This positions the opening ||2 in registering relation with the slot |04 so that dentifrice may pass to the spring chamber, and when a suicient amount has been deposited therein the knob is turned to the position wherein the opening ||2 registers with the valve |00, and with the nut 52 released the knob |38 is reciprocated which will pump air against the liquid in the spring chamber, forcing the liquid into the brush head, and at the same time air will be supplied behind the piston through the passages 44 and 16 and the valve ISG to relieve the pressure.

In the design shown in Figures 12 and 13 the tube 264 permits the supply'chamber or reservoir to be emptied when the outlet is above the liquid supply level, as reciprocation of the piston builds up pressure above the liquid which forces the liquid into the brush head.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.`

With the above and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination oi parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 6-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is -a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure l;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure l;

Figure 9 is a modified form of the invention;

Figure l0 is a sectional view on the line |0| of Figure 9; o

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view of a modied brush head;

Figure 13 is a view oi the same in section turned on an angle of and Figure 14 is a sectional view of the brush head taken on line |4|4 of Figure 1 but showing the bristle tufts provided with curved working surfaces.

Figure 15 is a detail showing the intermediate part of the fountain toothbrush as shown in Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 16 is a detail similar to that shown in Figure l5 showing the parts as illustrated in the part of Figure 2, on an enlarged Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fountain toothbrush, the combination, which comprises, an elongated substantially hollow tubular handle, oval shape in cross section, a tubular offset neck removably mounted on the end of the handle, a brush head having bristles on one side with outlet openings adjacent the bristles removably mounted on the end of the neck, a transverse partition with passages extending therethrough in the end of the handle from which the neck extends, said neck having a transverse opening therethrough, a valve member positioned in the end of the handle and extending into the transverse opening of the neck, a valve low tubular handle, oval shape in cross section, a tubular offset neck removably mounted on the end of the handle, a brush head having bristles on one side with outlet openings adjacent the `bristles removably mounted on the end of the from the partition, a closure member in the outer on said valve member controlling inlet and outlet h air passages in the valve member, a piston having a slot therethrough and valves therein slidably mounted in said handle, a spring urging the piston away from the partition, a closure member in the outer end of the handle, a tubular stem longitudinally sldable in said closure member having a knob on the outer end and a valve plate on the inner end and positioned against the piston, spring lingers holding the plate against the piston, said plate having an opening therethrough positioned to register alternately with the slot through the piston and with the valves therein, and a sleeve in said closure member having a threaded socket in the outer end adapted to receiVe the knob lat the outer end of the stern extending from the piston whereby the knob may be released to reciprocate the piston.

2. A fountain toothbrush as described in claim 1 having a centrally disposed air inlet and outlet passage extending from the valve member through the partition, piston and stem and opening into the interior of the handle through the stem.

3. In a fountain toothbrush, the combination which comprises an elongated substantially holu end of the handle, a tubular stem longitudinally slidable in said closure member having a knob on the outer end and a valve plate on the inner end and positioned against the piston, spring lingers holding the plate against the piston, said plate having an opening therethrough positioned to register alternately with the slot through the piston and with the valves therein, and a sleeve in said closure member having a threaded socket in the outer end adapted to receive the knob at the outer end of the stem extending from the piston whereby the knob may be released to reciprocate the piston.

LUDWIG- F. PERWAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,325,263 Sosdian Dec. 16, 1919 1,472,123 AHeinitish et al Oct. 30, 1923 1,552,598 Roeder Sept. 8, 1925 1,742,157 Christi-an Dec. 31, 1929 1,769,392 Ruiz July 1, 1930 1,945,023 Cleveland et al Jan, 30, 1934 2,107,242 Gates Feb. 1, 1938 2,146,847 Poole et al Feb. 14, 1939 2,214,144 Mureau Sept. 10, 1940 2,243,774 Resh May 2'7, 1941 

